Patients were not considered eligible for inclusion in the study if, based on a medical record review prior to randomization, they had unreliable means of receiving the intervention or the intervention would have provided inappropriate or inaccurate information. These patients included those who lived in a nursing or group home or homeless shelter; had no listed telephone number; scheduled the appointment less than 8 days in advance; or, had Type 1 diabetes, dementia or Alzheimer's or multiple GI procedures on the same day (such as those with both upper and lower GI procedures). All patients excluded from the study were assigned to usual care.